Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Avoiding Her
Summer Lancaster had just finished eating and was about to wash the dishes when her phone rang. She glanced at the clock, then set down her bowl and chopsticks in confusion. ’Who would be calling her this late?’
’Ah, could it be Kenneth?’ Summer excitedly picked up her phone, but the screen displayed "Dominic Thorne." Fine, she admitted, she was a little disappointed, but it was better than no news at all. ’Maybe Dominic is calling to tell me where Kenneth is so I won’t worry.’
She picked up her phone and happily answered, "Dominic Thorne, is Kenneth Yates with you?" Summer’s direct question made Dominic pause awkwardly, the words he’d been about to say dying on his lips.
"Um, yeah, he is." Dominic went against his conscience and covered for Kenneth. ’Otherwise, how would this whole farce end?’ The questions in his heart were constantly churning, and his desire to know what on earth had happened to Kenneth grew stronger by the moment. But from Summer’s tone, she didn’t seem to suspect anything was wrong.
"Summer, did something happen between you and the Boss?" Dominic asked cautiously, his heart in his throat.
Summer sounded completely oblivious. "No, what could have happened? Oh, the biggest thing that happened was you. Next time, could you please knock before entering someone’s room?" The memory of that afternoon at the hospital came flooding back, so embarrassing she wished the ground would swallow her whole.
"Ah, haha, I got it. I’ll be more careful next time." Dominic’s guilty laughter sounded a little unnatural. He was really giving it his all to deceive Summer right now. "Summer, something came up tonight. The Boss probably won’t be back, so don’t worry about him. You should go to sleep!"
"Okay, I understand. And make sure you remind him to eat breakfast in the morning. He messes up his schedule all the time. How can his body take it at that rate!" Summer carefully instructed Dominic to take good care of Kenneth, but to Dominic, it all sounded so pathetic.
’How ridiculous that the two of them could still act as if everything was the same. So, what’s next? What will Kenneth do now?’
"I’ll tell him. Well, Summer, good night!" Dominic hung up and let out a long sigh. He’d actually regretted it the moment he dialed the number. It was so late, Summer was probably already asleep. Even if she wasn’t, he didn’t know what to say. He was just about to hang up when she answered. From her tone, it didn’t sound like she’d been woken up. ’Could she have been waiting for the Boss all this time?’
’But why did the Boss leave without telling Summer? She was still asking me where Kenneth was.’
Dominic took out his phone again and dialed Kenneth’s number. "The number you have dialed is switched off. Please try again later..." A cold, female voice came from the receiver. Disappointed, Dominic put his phone away. ’I knew it!’
Well, that whole ordeal had completely ruined his mood. Dominic sent the woman away and started wandering the streets alone. This clearly wasn’t just some spat between the couple; it was obviously a test for him—a test of his lying skills and the thickness of his skin. Most importantly, the one he was deceiving was a close friend. He didn’t want to hurt Summer!
The streets were a kaleidoscope of neon lights as most people’s nightlife was just beginning. Dominic seemed completely out of sync with the city. Everyone else was accompanied by a beautiful partner, sweet and affectionate, but he was all alone, a solitary figure.
Suddenly, a familiar figure caught his eye. Dominic’s deep-set eyes widened for a moment, and in the next second, he strode forward without hesitation.
Melody Donovan was waiting for Julian Jennings to bring the car around at the parking lot entrance when she heard the sound of hurried footsteps behind her. She turned to look and fell, completely unguarded, into the bottomless depths of Dominic Thorne’s eyes.
Melody quickly shook her head, composed herself, and turned away, pretending she hadn’t seen him.
Dominic took a step forward and grabbed her arm. "I’m not doing well! Can you stop pretending? Can we just sit down and talk this out objectively? Maybe there’s been some kind of misunderstanding between us!" Dominic glared, pressing her relentlessly.
Melody’s expression was calm, showing no trace of emotion as she forcefully shook off his hand. "We both have other people now. What is there to talk about? Even if there was a misunderstanding, it’s in the past. Don’t grab me like this. My boyfriend might get the wrong idea, and your girlfriend will get jealous!"
"Melody Donovan!" Dominic had clearly seen her glance at him, but now she was turning her head away, pretending not to see.
Melody’s heart raced. She didn’t know how to handle this. After a few seconds, she slowly turned back, a very unnatural smile on her face.
"Hello," Melody said after a long moment of thought. ’Since I’ve decided not to pay him any mind, I should just be gracious and wish him well, as a friend would.’
Dominic’s frustration turned to fury. ’Why can she be so calm and indifferent now, as if nothing had ever happened between us?’
"Melody..." Julian Jennings’s voice called out from a short distance away. Just as Melody was about to respond, Dominic clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her into a nearby alley.
THUD. Dominic shoved Melody hard against the wall. Her features twisted in pain, and she reached up to pry his warm hand from her lips.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! Julian is calling for me!" Melody’s brow furrowed, her eyes flashing with impatience and anger.
Dominic pulled Melody into his arms and kissed her directly on the lips.
"Mmph... Mmph..." Melody’s eyes flew wide in disbelief. She struggled, her hands pushing against his chest, trying to break free from his embrace. But the difference in their strength was too great; there was no way she could overpower Dominic Thorne.
In Dominic’s eyes, her lips and body were exquisitely beautiful, sparking an overwhelming desire to conquer her. Even though she wasn’t cooperating with his kiss, he held her head firmly, pulling it toward him, and pried her lips apart to plunder greedily.
Dominic began to lose himself in the moment, and Melody seized the opportunity to shove him away forcefully. SLAP! A red palm print appeared on the man’s face.
"Have you had enough of your fun?" Melody furiously wiped her lips, as if trying to erase every trace of his presence. Dominic lowered his head and leaned against the opposite wall with a bitter smile. "Do you think I’m just playing around? I want you. Come with me. I can give you anything you want."
"I want love!" Melody’s expression was one of utter despair.
"Anything but love!" ’Right. He didn’t understand love, let alone how to give it, so he wouldn’t make promises he couldn’t keep. But at the very least, he could treat her well—better than anyone else.’
"Hmph!" Melody sneered, a bitter and helpless smile on her lips. ’Is this the man I held on to for so many years? I was so wrong about him.’ Wiping away her tears and ruined makeup, she walked proudly up to Dominic. "If you can’t give me what I want, then stop pestering me. Julian can give me love. I choose him!" Melody turned her head before he could answer, afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.
"Then do you love him?" Dominic’s deep voice sounded from behind her. Melody froze, then slowly replied, "Love, not love... isn’t it all the same in the end?"
Dominic watched Melody’s figure recede into the distance, lost in a daze...
Kenneth Yates entered the hotel room but didn’t turn on the lights. In the darkness, his tall figure leaned against a corner of the bed. His jacket was tossed by the door, his tie was loosened, and he propped a leg up, resting his long arm on his knee.
An angel fallen to the mortal world under the moonlight. The cigarette in his hand sent up wisps of milky white smoke. He was an intoxicating, mesmerizing sight.
But even angels have a demonic side. Once they become a Fallen Angel, wicked thoughts and desires will grow in their hearts, spreading uncontrollably, and no one can stop them.
Kenneth didn’t sleep a wink all night. In the morning, he went to the designer Oz’s place, changed his clothes, and then headed to the company.
Summer Lancaster woke up unusually late today. Since she didn’t have to go for a morning run or make breakfast, she enjoyed a comfortable, pleasant morning. She bought some congee on the way and drove her car, which she hadn’t touched in a long time, to the office.
’Thinking that Kenneth must not have slept well last night and probably wouldn’t eat a proper breakfast,’ Summer bought some soup dumplings and took the president’s private elevator straight up. Even though many people still stopped and stared at her with strange looks, she felt that as Kenneth’s wife, she was the lady of the company. ’As long as I’m happy, why should I care what others think?’
She hummed a little tune all the way to the president’s office, only to be stopped by Eleanor Grant.
"Ma’am, the President hasn’t come in to work yet!"
Summer raised an eyebrow and pouted. "Well then, Secretary Grant, please give this to him when he arrives!" Summer handed the soup dumplings to Eleanor, thinking, ’He must have worked too hard last night. It’s not impossible that he decided to sleep in a little.’
’Everyone has their limits. Kenneth deals with so much every day; he really is a bit overloaded.’
"Yes, I’ll give it to the President!" Eleanor pushed up her glasses, her eyes sharp.
Summer returned to her workstation and began her busy day...
Carrying the soup dumplings, Eleanor pushed open the door to the president’s office. "President, I’ve spoken to Director Lancaster as you instructed. This is what she asked me to give you." Eleanor placed the soup dumplings on the desk but didn’t leave right away.
Kenneth just glanced at them, showing no intention of eating.
"President, did something happen?" Eleanor had struggled for a long time before asking. For both professional and personal reasons, she felt she should show some concern for Kenneth. ’Why would the man who normally doted on Summer reject her, especially when Summer seemed completely unaware of anything?’
"Just do your job. The rest is none of your business!" A cold light emanated from Kenneth’s indifferent eyes.
"Yes, I understand!" Eleanor bowed respectfully and left the office. ’The last time Kenneth was this cold was right after Thea Shaw left. Back then, he ignored everyone’s concern as if he didn’t even know them.’
Their relationship wasn’t particularly close, but Kenneth was her benefactor, after all. That’s why Eleanor always looked out for him and hoped he could find more happiness.
